Our Proud History

The Guelph “1882 Wellington Rifles” Army Cadets

Tracing its roots back to 1882, the Guelph Cadet Corps was initially established at the Guelph Grammar School. This heritage began with the formation of The Highland Cadets by Captain Walter Clarke, a distinguished veteran of the Crimea War. Upon his demobilization in Canada after colonial service, Captain Clarke took on a role as a Physical Training Instructor (PTI) at Guelph Grammar School, where he also formed a girls' corps known as The Daughters of the Regiment in 1884.

These initial efforts led to the formation of Cadet Corps #18. Even as our history has been punctuated by challenging times, particularly during the 1930s, our spirit remained indomitable. During World War Two, the cadet training was revived as the Guelph Collegiate Institute Cadet Corps, sponsored by the Guelph Board of Education and affiliated with the 11th Field Artillery Regt.

The Guelph Collegiate and Vocational Institute Cadet Corps officially came into existence on April 24, 1942. Although this iteration of the Corps was disbanded by March 31, 1948, our commitment to cadet training never wavered. We saw a resurgence in 1964, when the Guelph Secondary Schools Cadet Corps was formed and once again affiliated with the 11th Field Artillery Regt.

In recognition of our rich traditions, the Cadet Corps was re-designated in 1976 as #1882 The Wellington Regiment Cadet Corps, still proudly affiliated with the 11th Field Artillery Regt. The following year, it became the Wellington Rifles Cadet Corps, where we continue to wear our silver badge, approved in 1928, with pride.

The 1882 Staff

  • Captain James Farnsworth

    Commanding Officer

  • Lieutenant David Hubert

    Deputy Commanding Officer & Training Officer

  • Lieutenant Mike Mahoney

    Supply Officer

  • Second Lieutenant Marc Trepanier, CD

    Level Officer

  • Captain (Retired) Alan Miller

    Administration Officer & Range Safety Officer

  • Corporal (Retired) James Brasil

    Level Officer

  • Ms Ryleigh MacPherson

    Assistant Administration Officer and Public Affairs

  • Master Corporal Ojapalo

    11 Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery Cadet Liason Officer

Support Committee

  • Bill Downes

    1882 Support Committee Chair

  • Elsa Kent

    1882 Support Committee Treasurer

  • Chelsea McDougall

    1882 Support Committee Member

  • Amanda Pletsch

    1882 Support Committee Member

  • Sarah Bazinet

    1882 Support Committee Member

About the Royal Canadian Army Cadets

We are proud to be part of the national organization of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, a vibrant community for young individuals between the ages of 12 to 18. Our family extends to more than 25,000 cadets, organized into over 450 corps spanning the entire breadth of Canada.

Our cadets convene once a week throughout the school year for their designated training night. This experience enriches them with crucial life skills, such as leadership, effective communication, outdoor survival, drill, and range. Further, many of our corps offer additional optional nights dedicated to sports, drill, range, biathlon, or other forms of training.

We also provide opportunities for our cadets to participate in exciting outdoor exercises, competitions, and various trips during selected weekends throughout the year. Our mission is to foster the growth of our cadets as both individuals and community leaders.